The Battle of Sauron and Finrod Felagund - Clamavi De Profundis
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- Опубліковано 30 лис 2020
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Here is our version of J.R.R. Tolkien's poem, "The Battle of Sauron and Finrod Felagund!" We have been working on this for several months. We hope you enjoy it:).
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A note on our interpretation:
The song on which this piece is based is taken from Chapter 19 of J.R.R. Tolkien’s Silmarillion. The chief feature of the piece is the back-and-forth sensation created by the movement from a ‘Sauron’ theme in the beginning to a series of heroic Elven themes and then back to Sauron themes at the end. This back-and-forth movement represents the battle between Sauron, the lieutenant of Morgoth, and Finrod Felagund, the king of the Noldor, shortly before Finrod’s death. The initial Sauron theme, impressing the feel of the dungeons of the Necromancer, is met by determined Elven resistance that is eventually entirely overcome.
The poem represents the fall of Finrod to Sauron in many ways, the most obvious of which is Finrod’s losing the battle, a battle, remarkably, of song. It is noteworthy, however, that Finrod is subjugated by Sauron in the tower called Tol-in-Gaurhoth, Island of Werewolves. This tower was built by Finrod himself, who called it Minas Tirith, Tower of Guard, since it was built to guard the pass of the River Sirion, but it was taken by Sauron for Morgoth. This makes it Sauron’s original Dark Tower, acquired by theft and mutilation, a den of wolves and vampires. Sauron’s mutilation of things high and beautiful and Elven is one of the recurring musical features of the piece.
Another element of interest is the thought represented by the Elven interludes between the verses of the poem. The words sung are: “Nai hiruvalyë Valimar. Nai elyë hiruva. Namárië! Sí man i yulma nin enquantuva? Sí vanwa ná, Rómello vanwa, Valimar!” These are taken from the famous lament for Valimar sung by Galadriel in Lothlorien in the Fellowship of the Ring. They are translated, first: “Maybe thou shalt find Valimar. Maybe even thou shalt find it. Farewell!” And then, “Who now shall refill the cup for me? Now lost, lost to those from the East is Valimar!” They help to communicate, first, the sensation that Valimar and its power, a power that Finrod invokes in vain one last time, have been lost by the Noldor through the Doom of Mandos, and, second, the link between Finrod and Galadriel, his sister, both at the moment of his fall, and much later, in a different age of the world, in memory.
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We are unable to get permission to sell this song so we are posting it here free for your enjoyment. If you want a copy of the mp3, we are offering it to those who support us on Patreon!
My brothers composed and arranged this piece. My family sang it.
Artwork by:
Michael Howe
michaelhowearts.com/
Please no bad language in the comments. We want this to be family friendly:) Thank you!
Lyrics:
The Battle of Sauron and Finrod Felagund
He chanted a song of wizardry,
Of piercing, opening, of treachery,
Revealing, uncovering, betraying.
Then sudden Felagund there swaying,
Sang in a song of staying,
Resisting, battling against power,
Of secrets kept, strength like a tower,
And trust unbroken, freedom, escape;
Of changing and shifting shape,
Of snares eluded, broken traps,
The prison opening, the chain that snaps.
Nai hiruvalyë Valimar.
Nai elyë hiruva. Namárië!
Sí man i yulma nin enquantuva?
Sí vanwa ná, Rómello vanwa, Valimar!
Backwards and forwards swayed their song.
Reeling foundering, as ever more strong
The chanting swelled, Felagund fought,
And all the magic and might he brought
Of Elvenesse into his words.
Softly in the gloom they heard the birds
Singing afar in Nargothrond,
The sighting of the Sea beyond,
Beyond the western world, on sand,
On sand of pearls on Elvenland.
Nai hiruvalyë Valimar.
Rómello vanwa, Valimar!
Then in the doom gathered; darkness growing
In Valinor, the red blood flowing
Beside the Sea, where the Noldor slew
The Foamriders, and stealing drew
Their white ships with their white sails
From lamplit havens. The wind wails,
The wolf howls. The ravens flee.
The ice mutters in the mouths of the Sea.
The captives sad in Angband mourn.
Thunder rumbles, the fires burn-
And Finrod fell before the throne.
Here is our version of J.R.R. Tolkien's poem, "The Battle of Sauron and Finrod Felagund!" We have been working on this for several months. We hope you enjoy it:). Please check video description for our explanation of this song.
Please do Fingolfin vs Morgoth from the Lay of Beleriand
What exactly was the audio issue?
@@egorgorelyy6109 It was processed as a mono track, getting rid of any stereo effects we had in the mix, like certain voices in the left or right channels. It made it sound less full and tinny.
You mean this song is going to sound even better??? Absolutely amazing
@@ClamaviDeProfundis I thought it sounded a little flat last time, (I was like what happened to CDPs signature voice mix) glad you guys caught it. I still love it before and after.
Finrod: Sings about Valinor and the beaches of Alqualonde.
Sauron: ‘Funny you should mention those places…’
Sauron: "oh yeahhh...do you remember what happened there?"
GODDAMN FINROD, YOU DID IT AGAIN!
In Tobey Maguires voice: *Its funny you sound say that*
Wow! You understood the elvish chanting?
*One of the best comments under this video!*
Felagund: "Elves are the best!"
Sauron: "Yeah, especially at killing your own kind!"
Felagun: " :( "
that one made me laugh
In a nutshell. Perfect.
can anyone explain this high IQ comment
Accurate
@@heatedpants8437 well.... Sauron is an elf (in appearance) and uh.... some elves didn't like eachother ;)
The only thing Finrod wanted to do is help his man Beren to get his girl, even if it meant to battle Sauron. Best wingman ever.
Unfortunately he (and other companion elven soldiers) died for nothing. Beren even didn't remembered Finrods and companions' names lol
@@_semih_ He didn't die for nothing. He saved Beren's life and Beren certainly remembered Finrod and his companions until his death.
@@_semih_ Finrod died saving Beren from being wolf-chow. Sauron threw Finrod, Beren, and their companions into the dungeons and, not knowing who they were, sent a huge wolf down to eat each one of them until they gave up their secrets. When the wolf came for Beren, Finrod broke his chains and, bare-handed, killed the wolf, but died of his own wounds. Beren, the only one left, went on to meet up with his beloved Luthien; and, after they escaped from Sauron, they went in disguise to Morgoth's lair and subdued him and took a Silmaril from his Iron Crown. If not for Finrod, Beren would have died, and not lived to become the ancestor of both Aragorn and Arwen (much less help Luthien get the Silmaril, which eventually caused Morgoth's downfall, thanks to Beren and Luthien's grand-daughter and her husband...). Don't ever disrespect Finrod!
@@gailf1617 finrod truly is the best wingman ever!
@Maedhros Nelyafinwë yes
I like that Finrod shows up to the fight with Sauron, and literally calls up the light of Valinor from the west, to which Sauron is all "oh, you wanna talk about Valinor?" and then casts down the light with the blood the Elves spilled.
Sauron: I’m about to end this elf’s whole career.
Feels like Sauron means ‘Know what you’re talking about before you speak to me of Valinor. I know what you did, how can you speak of Valinor after what you have done?’
I don't know the full deal with the situation. but the elf's downfall might have been to think of themselves as perfect and perfectly good. or they didn't know well of their imperfect side, until too late.
Yeah but Finrod didn't participate tho. That's why he was able to come back to life.
@@tanukiahs499 He was still of the Noldor. His house may not have partaken in the Kinslaying, but their sister-houses did, and the shame fell upon *all* the Noldor.
I love how Sauron keeps it mild, almost like a conversation, but then the moment he sees a weakness in Finrod he strikes deadly. I think it rly suits him
I’m so glad that this exists, because nobody ever believes me when I tell them there was essentially a rap battle in the Simarillion.
Because its not a rap battle...
Epic Rap Battles of Fantasy
@@jacobwalsh1888 to be fair he said basically
Not rap battle
Same - one of my friends asked why I didn't particularly enjoy rings of power and I explained the wildness that was Finrod and Beren. I think she now wants to read the silmarillian!
I love how almost the moment Finrod's song turns towards Valinor, the voices begin to falter as the music darkens and swells; as if in that instant Finrod realized his mistake and saw the iron jaws of Sauron's song snapping shut around his own, forged by the treachery of his own kindred.
Treachery and corruption always win in the end. There is no power or integrity that cannot be laid low by lies, mistrust, greed and fallacies real or imagined.
@@grandadmiralzaarin4962 Do you mean irl or in Tolkien's works? Because in Tolkien's works that's very much inaccurate.
@@weezact7 both as even in Tolkien's work the world is forever changed due to both Morgoth and Sauron's actions. Entire realms and peoples of Middle Earth are either corrupted or extinguished. The original creation is forever marred and tainted even after both Dark lords have fallen.
@@grandadmiralzaarin4962 I see where you would get that impression, but I think you are not looking deeply enough. I would remind you of what Eru said after Melkor attempted to alter the Theme to his own enlargement rather than the adornment of the Theme of Ilúvatar: "And thou, Melkor, shall see that no theme may be played that hath not its uttermost source in me, not can any alter the music in my despite. For he that attempteth this shall prove but mine instrument in the devising of things more wonderful, which he himself hath not imagined."
@@nordithen
That's just a poetic way of saying "I'm God, even if the entire planet dies, I still win, because I say so".
"No one can make a battle with _singing_ epic."
Tolkien: "Wanna bet?"
Tolkien "Hold my pipe"
That's actually one element straight from Kalevala! Magic being wielded by singing is an old Finnish belief.
@@maivaiva1412 indeed. The finnish zither made from the jawbone of a huge pike was the most tresured instrument of Väinämöinen, who is one of the main characters in Kalevala. And a powerful singer/chanter himself too. 😉
Well we don't even hear the song this just the song about the song probably because sauron was singing in a language only known to the Áineur and fingol was countering in elvish
Tolkien: "Hold my pen...
Actually no, I need that."
Pretty bold move trying to defeat Sauron in a singing contest considering he participated in the freaking Music of the Ainur and saw God himself battle with Morgoth for supremacy.
Well, Finrod had no choice but boldness if he was going to save Beren's life and hopefully his own and the lives of their companions. Sauron held them captive, Finrod had no other weapons but his voice and power.
Yeah, but reminding Felagund about kin slaying was honestly pretty cunning and brutal.
You have to give Sauron that one.
I'd honestly forgotten about that! Thanks for reminding me, that's a whole new level to this song. 😮💥
now that you have said that, is there a poem for that? cause I would love to see clamavi de profundis do the rap battle of God vs Morgoth, I imagine it would be beautiful, especially if it is morgoth dissing God, and the vaiar defending God, then God just totally wrecking morgoth with a single line.
To be fair, Eru didn't really battle Morgoth, he slapped him down quick once he let him have his fun.
I love how Finrod sings 'Nai hiruvalye Valimar' against Sauron here, meaning 'Maybe even thou shalt find Valimar'. It shows that Finrod, kind king as he is, is still able to muster some compassion for his hated enemy. And then Sauron's utterance of 'Si man i Yulma nin Enquantuva; Si vanwa na romello vanwa Valimar' is not only a reminder that Valinor is lost to the elves, but also to himself. There is a lingering sadness, a longing for what could have been, even in this darkest of maiar.
What’s the translation of Sauron’s verse?
@@maxttozer5037 indeed. I, too would see those lines translated as they were for the original...
@@maxttozer5037 "Who then shall fill the cup for us? Now lost, lost to those of the east is Valimar." Is the translation I know.
@@maxttozer5037 'Who now shall fill up my cup? Now lost, lost to those of the east is Valmar".
@@Count.Saruman That first sentence does seem to be more accurate upon checking myself, I suspect the person who translated it for me tried to provide some sort of context instead of the complete translation.
Finrod was completely defeated by the mention of the First Kinslaying, and THEN Sauron brought up the Helcaraxe. That's why they call him Gorthaur the Cruel
I always took it exactly was it was written.
"The captives sad in Angband mourn. Thunder rumbles, the fires burn--
And Finrod fell before the throne."
To my mind the implied interruption of that line of the song, it was as if Sauron wasn't even done yet. Finrod simply lost before he could finish. He didn't just lose, he was crushed.
I like how the video implies Sauron as saying the last line out loud as a sort of a sarcastic finisher. He simply willed the end of the song to happen, and it did.
@@dustinjones7458 I think "The captives sad in Angband mourn. Thunder rumbles, the fires burn--" bit is just the writer's poetic narrative of the duel event. not something Sauron is singing. Seems the 'muttering of the ice in the Sea' is a final blow that he is giving.
@@kanrup5199 this is kinda it. It comes from the section of a long poem and so the poem continues after this. ThTs just the line of the poem signaling their battle is over
@@dustinjones7458 this is a brilliant intepretation. I love it, and it is entirely fitting with Sauron's character as utterly and completely cruel. I imagine him softly speaking, with a sardonic smirk "And finrod fell before the throne...." ( though as read literally, I dont think Tolkien intended this, since he was waiting to interrogate him to get his name and errand)
@@dustinjones7458 So what you're saying is:
Sauron free styled the whole thing and gave it an improvised ending cuz Finrod literally fell before the throne?
The genius of this song is when you realize just how crafty Sauron is being. He waits until Finrod makes mention of the shores of Valinor, and then completely devastates him by singing about the kinslaying.
It really is an amazing moment. I can just imagine a movie/TV version of this where the environment around them shifts and changes with the song. It shifts to the beauty of Valinor but then Sauron twists it and the environment decays as darkness envelops and blood flows along the ground.
@@KostyaComm That would be incredible. I always picture it as Finrod singing about Valinor and then being horrified when he realizies that he's given Sauron exactly what he needs to win.
@@KostyaComm Well, we're getting a show about the Second Age, so we'll probably see that
@@ilikenougat8892 Nope, this duel happened in the First Age.
@@vahlen5281 Oh, nevermind then, lol
I thought it happened in the second
I love that Sauron ultimately defeats Finrod by bringing up Alqualondë. Its almost as if Finrod forgot that the Doom of the Noldor applied to him, too.
He basically gave him ptsd,And caused his will to break and his concentration to slack just enough as a result,At least that's the way i see it
What happened here? I'm not well versed in Tolkien. Trying to be!
@@Mephiles343 Yeah I agree. It's heartbreaking that Sauron uses the trauma Finrod must have experienced at the first kinslaying (both sides of his family killing each other, too :( ) to get at him and that's what makes him falter
I don't "love" it in that it is so tragic,but you don't need to be happy to be moved by a poem.The whole story is just so far above stuff we are served up today.I hope the movies continue to get new people exploring Tolkien's works.
But house of Finarfin didnt attend the kinslaying tho
I love how this song-battle is less about invoking arcane powers or obscure magic incantations and more about themes, emotions and ideas. Sauron starts with evil or unpleasant things: piercing, treachery etc. Finrod responds with: secrets kept, trust unbroken or prison opening. I imagine their mind being bombarded by those emotions and ideas. In the end, Finrod lost when his mind was filled with the images of the kinslaying, treachery of the Noldor. He drowned in despair. A sad but beautiful song. One of a kind.
Its almost like a battle of belief and ideology
This! All of this!
Almost feels like blind faith vs. knowledge. In the same way a christian would argue with satan
@@eathr349 I would say more like Hope vs. Despair.
@@laningsmith9163 When you put it like that, yeah it does. And probably the most unique and impactful at that.
I've only seen the like in one other work, namely the battle between Shiro and Archer in Fate\Stay Night, Unlimited Blade Works, but that was a far more kinetic example.
Overall, this is the more epic in scope, though that series did a great job dissecting the concept of heroism and the inherent contradictions.
for those who think a singing battle in Tolkiens creation seems a bit funny, just remember the whole world was created by Eru's singing, so for all intense and purpose's the whole world is a giant song, its called "Music of the Ainur"
It was also a common trope in the finnish national epic of Kalevala, which inspired Tolkien! For anyone interested in that, I suggest looking it up.
The implication here being that it is possible to reshape reality itself through appropriate music and song.
This rap battle literally shook the world
@Matthew Crouch :exactly
Sauron: Why were you and your group not reporting to the orc captains?
Orc: *Sings in Elvish*
Sauron: *Confused Dark Lord noises*
Also the elfs: *biG BrAIn*
Like 6,500 years or so later:
Sauron: Why have you neglected to report, Saruman?
Pippin: I am a hobbit.
Sauron: Confused Dark Lord noises.
@@NathanDav42 Saruman openly betrayed Sauron. Why would he report to him?
@@tomskowski6239 This scene actually happened in the book. In ‘The Palantir,’ when Pippin looks into the palantir, he sees Sauron, who believes it is Saruman and begins by asking, ‘So you have come back. Why have you neglected to report for so long?’ And when he realizes it isn’t Saruman, he forcibly asks Pippin, ‘Who are you?’ To which Pippin answers, ‘A Hobbit,’ and Sauron laughs believing Saruman’s forcing his hobbit prisoner to deal with Sauron, and he says he’ll send (a Nazgûl) for Pippin.
@@NathanDav42 Oh, I see.
Finrod's song was not strong enough to defeat Sauron, but can we please acknowledge that Finrod's will and his music was strong enough to put up a very good fight against a being which helped to sing the universe into existence?
And was if I remember correctly meant to be very skilled in such things
I think Denethor battling will against will with Sauron directly through the Palantir for decades is more impressive than Finrod's song personally.
Finrod's is more soectacular.
He could only do that because he could claim a "right" to it as Aragorn can, so Sauron can't really hinder them from using it.@@grandadmiralzaarin4962
Both should be admired. Finrod being an Elf dared to match Sauron's skill, Denethor being a man bravely endured Sauron's cunning and will.
3:05 is a perfect change of tone. I can imagine Sauron sitting up with a smirk that says "That was cute. My turn again."
Sauron wasn't only known as the Dark Lord of Mordor. He was also known as the Dank Lord of spitting bars.
Lil' Sauron
Sauron has drip?!
@@highmarshalhelbrecht3933 the real reason he wants the one ring
Yeah he will crush your heart and make you depressed with his drip
lol
"The White Ships and their White Sails" gives me chills every time.
Tolkien wrote some of the coolest poems ever, I swear.
And the coolest high fantasy story saga ever.
Tolkien and Kipling two of the best poets.
If someone had asked me in school who my favorite poet was, I would have said Tolkien. And probably gotten weird looks for it, too.
Don't swear he wouldn't like it.
you don't have to swear if its a truth
"Of Elvenesse into his words
Softly in the gloom they heard the birds" gives me goosebumps every I hear it
Me too
Findrod: *sing of the awsomeness of Valinor*
Sauron: *you've just activated my trap card*
I personally love that the duel between two of the most powerful beings in Middle-Earth is one not of arms, but of the mastery of sorcery- through song. It's one of the most Tolkien-esque ideas I've ever heard, and as such, for me, this is one of his best songs. Thank you for this superb rendition. I could think of no-one better to capture that.
Tolkien liked the idea which he found in the Kalevala.
@@glishev There is also a lot of Irish myth here too, as song as magic was important in that too. It probably isn't an idea specific to any one culture, but I've no doubt that Tolkien both read and was inspired by the Kalevala too. That man and his languages...
@@Canuovea, indeed :)
Well, they weren't two most powerful beings in Middle-Earth (that would probably be Morgoth vs. Melian if that fight would ever happen) but they were ones of the most powerful beings. On the other hand hand I also think that it's super cool and Felagund is the best.
@@jakubkoubsky Melian was not a strong Maiar. Her only ability was creating a girdle which is for hiding from Morgoth's and Sauron's eyes.
Even Gandalf and Saruman was more stronger than her lol
Melian was not more powerful than any of Balrog or Sauron... So she was nothing to compare Morgoth
"Please listen to this and share it so we can get the view count back to what it was on the original video!"
Gondor calls for aid...
... and UA-cam viewers shall answer!
Forth Riders of UA-cam! Forth Eorlingas!
@Tee Hong Yee I think even Sauron would like this. One of his most famous victories retold ages later!
“Fell deeds awake. Now for wrath, now for ruin and the red dawn! FORTH UA-cam! CHARGE!”
just yes...
It takes a lot of balls for a Elf to raise his song against Sauron, no matter he lost to even try was already a victory.
Not even to try, but to stand on even ground for him for even a few minutes.
I feel like the picture doesn't get the recognizion it deserves. It's a very good depiction of the battle.
And it changes!!!
Why is finrod an orc and turn to an elve
@@thatrandomeliteultra1158 He was an elve disguised as an orc but Sauron stripped the disguise away.
@@thatrandomeliteultra1158 read the silmarillion
@@matthewbogard6870 I might
The "softly the the gloom they heard the birds" line gives me shivers every time I hear it. It's such a gorgeous image.
Finrod: Sings about elves and valinor
Sauron: "I'm about to end this man's whole career."
Finrod: Why do I hear boss music?
Sauron: Why do _I_ hear boss music??
Ancalagon: why do I hear boss music oh no there's a guy in a flying boat with a bow...
@@dolphingoreeaccount7395 Melkor: "Weird... there's only this one elf... should be easy to kill him."
"Wait where's that singing coming from?"
@@AlyssMa7rin And ages later...
Melkor: "Well, that elf isn't around anymore. Wait, this human looks a little too familiar, and what's with that black sword he's carrying?"
*Tolkien.. Ascends*
*Eru Illuvatar "Why do I hear Boss Music?"*
Sauron provides his OWN boss music.
...and Finrod fell before the throne...’ that line always hit me hard
Probably my favourite Finrod-thing still has to be his discussion with Andreth. I mean,
"do candles pity moths?"
"or moths candles, when the wind blows them out?"
That is a dang powerful metaphor.
What's the context?
I'm tempted to buy HoME volume 10 just so I can read the Athrabeth Finrod ah Andreth.
@@morgant.dulaman8733 There's a dialogue between Finrod and Andreth (a mortal woman of the Edain) known as the "Athrabeth Finrod ah Andreth," in which the two characters discuss immortality and the differences between Elves and Men.
It is contained in the tenth volume of the History of Middle Earth, a book titled Morgoth's Ring. I have yet to read it, but it sounds really cool, so I will at some point.
For more information: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Morgoth%27s_Ring
@@LegoMonkeycat this is literally the nerdiest comment section i've ever been in
It's a very informative text regarding the immortality of elves. And it answers many questions. I too skipped the entire HoME to read that part, lol. I love how Finrod is portrayed as a wise and a prophetic king there
I have always loved this battle. Because it shows in fairly good detail WHAT a sorcery battle in Tolkien's world looks like. Words of Power, Songs of Power; invoking the Valar and Eru Illuvatar for extraordinary power; its both subtle and obviously magical. Gandalf vs the Balrog is similar as well though that ones not in song. And Gandalf uses Words of Power instead of Songs to cast most of his magic(Gandalf and I assume others also seem to have a sort of magic barrier around them, protecting them; like when Aragorn Legolas and Gimli mistook Gandalf for Saruman in Fangorn forest and attacked, only for Gandalfs power to incinerate the Arrow fired at him, make Anduril too hot for Aragorn to hold, and broke Gimli's will to fight. I also think, besides the plot of course, that this is why none of the Wizards or other powerful people ever die by stray arrows or the like.
I love the low-key way that magic operates in Tolkien's universe. It would be too farcical for them to be launching magic missiles at each other like DnD or something. Its far more subtle than that. And it feels MUCH more powerful than anything overt like that.
I find it to be a really nice change of pace. I’ve seen worlds use words to cast magic but never seen a system like Tolkien’s. The idea of songs chaining together words of power is far more awesome than it sounds and I love it
Not like they couldn't launch fire balls or lighting at each other i asume... it's just not what the wizards were sent to do.
I always wondered if because of how subtle magic is, if you could consider middle earth as low-magic
@@Hk121394 It's low-magic after millennia of fading from high-magic
Lyrics:
(Narrator, in Sauron's voice)
He chanted a song of wizardry
Of piercing, opening. Of treachery
Revealing, uncovering, betraying
(Narrator, in voice of Felagund)
Then sudden, Felagund there swaying,
Sang in answer a song of staying,
Resisting, battling against the power,
With secrets kept, strength like a tower.
And just unbroken, freedom escaped,
Of changing and of shifting shape
Of snares eluded, broken traps
The prison opening, the chain that snaps
(unknown Sauron chanting)
(in elvish, Felagund combined with a female elven choir)
Nai hiruvalyë Valimar.
Nai elyë hiruva. Namárië!
(darker elivsh, Sauron's speech)
Sí man i yulma nin enquantuva?
Sí vanwa ná, Rómello vanwa, Valimar!
(translation:)
_Maybe you shall find Valimar._
_Maybe even you shall find it. Farewell!_
_Who now shall refill the cup for me?_
_Now lost, lost to those from the East is Valimar._
(narrator and Felagund (some parts are narration, some are song))
Backwards and forwards swayed their song,
Reeling and foundering as ever more strong,
The chanting swelled, Felagund fought,
With all of the magic and might he brought
Of elvenesse in his words,
Softly in the gloom they heard the birds,
Singing afar in Nargothrod,
The sighing of the sea beyond,
Beyond the western world on sand,
Of sand of pearls in elven land.
(sadder tone, Sauron, as if he knows his foe is doomed)
Nae hiruvalye Valimar
Romello vanwa, Valimar
(powerful dark tone, Sauron, slowly increasing, peaking at "The wolf howls")
Then the gloom gathered. Darkness growing.
In Valinor, the red blood flowing,
Beside the sea, where Noldor slew
The foamriders and the stealing drew
Their white ships, with their white sails,
*From lamplit havens. The wind wails.*
*The wolf howls, the ravens flee.*
*The ice mutters, in the mouth of the sea!*
(unknown Black Speech)
(narrator, in voice of Sauron)
The captain sad, in Angbad mourn.
Thunder rambles, the fires burn.
Then Finrond fell before the throne.
(more Black Speech interwinding with the song, sounds like "Agh burzum-ishi krimpatul..." from the "One Ring to Rule Them All" poem)
Liking and commenting to boost you. I'm hoping someone can tell us what that Black Speech was.
We will watch your career with great interest
BTW, in the last verse it's captives, not captain. Edit: and I'm pretty sure the translation of Valimar is Valinor.
@@charlessaintpe8574 Valimar is technically only the city of the Valar, however it is used in equity to Valinor as a whole by Galadriel. So it could be either Finron and Sauron speaking of the city, or of the wider continent.
Right before the final verse, it's not the black speech. It's Sauron exclaiming "Finrod! Your spell is broken!"
My favorite part is:
“The chanting swelled, Felagund fought, and all the magic and might he brought”
Such powerful line
Yet the line:
“Softly in the gloom they heard the birds, singing afar in Nargothrond, the sighing of the sea beyond”
Gives a feeling of a sacred and magical place
Yes! Same
Agreed!
Those lines will never not give me shivers
This is exactly the type of content that would make a screen adaptation for the Silmarillion kind of impossible. It’s a mental battle of abstract themes, ideas, and wills which can be captured perfectly in writing and poem but can’t be firmly visualized. I think the sort of vaguenesses and ambiguity in what they are singing is exactly what’s needed to convey the higher order battle that’s happening here compared to some kind of low physical altercation
I think it could be done, musicals and operas are a thing, it would be difficult because of the design by committee nature of modern cinema, everyone wanting their pound of creative flesh. You couldn't do it in Hollywood because Americans and their directors have long given up on subtly, and nuance, everything has to be action and explosions.
Even if it was all a trap. The fact that an elf could last that long with a literal Fallen angel is something to respect.
Finrod: "We hail from the shores of the Undying Lands!"
Sauron: "So anyway, you started kinslaying..."
This song is the living encarnation of PTSD(the way Sauron defeats Finrod, the way he makes him revive the memories), only a great war veteran like Tolkien could have done this with such perfection.
I've just finished the Silmalrillion and Finrod Felagund is definitely my favourite elf.
Def one of my favorites. And I believe, Finrod Felagund was also the first Elf to actually go among the Edain, the newly arrived race of Man in the west of middle earth, and made friends with them and learned their language and taught them the language of the Noldor. Like Fingolfin, Finrod was one of most heroic Elves, and DIDNT deserve the Fate of the Noldor that was thrust on him just because he followed his kin into middle earth - he didn't even participate in the kinslaying neither did Fingolfin; the kinslaying was all the work of Feanor and his sons and their immediate followers they trusted the most, a relatively small group.
He is everyone's favourite.
@@chucknorris202 fingolfin did take part in the first kinslaying.
Not everyone's! I admit, I love the harsh pride of Fëanor. But, I also love the steadfast strength of Fingolfin.
They both showed up and joined a battle in progress. That is very different from starting the fight.
Okay to be crass here a second ? You’re telling me Sauron had what was essentially a rap battle imbued with magic because that’s an awesome concept music as magic makes me think of some Irish myths
Yup. That's exactly what happened. He battled against Galadriel's older brother Finrod "Felagund", after catching him and the human Beren, along with several companions trying to sneak past his stronghold on their way to Sauron's master Morgoth to steal one of the Silmarils from him. Finrod had disguised himself and his friends as Orcs, but Sauron knew something was up so he tried to sing/cast a spell to reveal their true forms. So Finrod stood up and sang a counter-spell, which kicked off this Epic Rap Battle of Middle-Earth History.
Wurzelknecht hey man thanks for the context ! Might have to put the silmarillion higher on my reading list ...
@@llewtree3013 there is no rap in here.
@@Wurzelknecht So what you're saying is, it basically went down like this:
DM: Okay, Sauron, you see a couple of Orcs that seem to be kind of off, like they're trying to play it cool and not draw your attention.
Sauron: *narrows eyes* Okay that's sus, I cast Dispel Magic.
DM: Okay, Finrod-
Finrod: Hell no, COUNTERSPELL!
DM: Okay, let's roll initiative!
@@TerLoki That's pretty much exactly what happened, yes.
I just HAD to comment because this version of the battle touched my heart and gave me chills in a way that it never has before. Sauron doesn’t just defeat Finrod here. He /corrupts/ the song, he takes the source of Finrod’s strength and twists it much like Melkor did ages before. Finrod himself brings the song to Alqualondë, and that is his downfall. You can /feel/ the moment Sauron takes the upper hand!
The inclusion of Namarië hits so hard as well and was an inspired choice!
The triumph at the beginning gave me such chills! And so did ‘singing afar in Nargothrond’.
This is an amazing piece of work and you should be so so proud.
Finrod was screwed the moment he decided to take on one of those who sang the world into being in a song battle. Sauron was probably giggling internally all the way through the battle.
@@LordMortanius I could be wrong, but isnt that melkor? I think sauron came later in the world
@@Faircrow All of the Ainur sang in the Music. Both Melkor and Sauron were part of the Ainur, it was just that Melkor was a Valar who was a Greater Spirit compared to Sauron who was a Maiar and was a subordinate in rankings.
@@JulianCastelle23 I think it's noted in one of the letters that Sauron had a greater understanding of the Song than Melkor.
@@LordMortanius it would make sense. Melkor was mighty but he was a jack of all master of none. Sauron was a master craftsman.
That Finrod was able to stand, even for a time, against a Power of Arda speaks volumes about the strength of the High Elves in the First Age.
One word : Fingolfin
@@anishkulkarni8297 lol Fingolfin would be lost the song of power in a second. He had no magical abilities unlike Finrod
@@_semih_ All Elf-Lords had some measure of magical power, whether or not Fingolfin developed his is never touched upon, and thus any opinions are sheer speculation.
@@_semih_ Fingolfin would have Slain Sauron outright, with Ringil.
@@jacobwalsh1888 Any canon text which supports your ridiculous claim, my friend? Sauron is the only character who defied Manwe's fiery lightning strike and his body was unharmed after that tremendous event. Sauron had to be "diminished" by Eru Illuvatar first so the weapons of Gil-Galad and Elendil could harm his physical body. So no! Feanor couldn't have even scratch Sauron's physical being with his mortal weapon. You better search for the lore instead of spreading your baseless fan-fiction.
So, in essence Finrod and Sauron engaged in a rap battle with mortal consequences. Wonderful.
That's... Kind of how magic works in Arda, Words and Songs hold Power so a rap battle WOULD have consequences... As would Oaths...
This is one of the greatest pieces of Tolkien’s work. Everything about it is magical, you can feel the two battling in songs of power. Their spells twist and twirl and strive and struggle, putting Felagund’s faith in the his people and their works against the fell might of Sauron, the Lord of Tol-in-Gaurhoth. But in the end it is Finrod’s shame, the Noldor’s shame, the slaughter of the Teleri, that made his song falter. And for all Sauron’s sorcery, and all Morgoth’s might, they alone could not snuff out the greatest of elvendom. But what does extinguish their flame is their very own sins, their own fault and failure. It is not Sauron’s spell that makes Finrod fall, but the curse of the Noldor. "And Finrod fell before the throne", all according to Illuvatar.
welp
Great comment
LOL Sauron uses original sin as a nuke in a rap battle.
That's one way to put it.
The despair at remembering the kindslaying broke Finrod.
@@IIBloodXLustII Has to hit him even harder than normal because he was personally present there.
@@CantusTropus
No he wasn’t Finrod had no part in the kindslaying. That’s why he was resurrected soon after his death.
@@highground6912 Yes, but he witnessed the aftermath with his own eyes, so he indeed was there in a way that matters.
Besides these were his own blood kin (on both sides) killing each other so no wonder he'd be hit hard by being reminded of it.
@@highground6912 He was still there and did nothing about it, and took passage on the stolen ships, so he can't feel totally guiltless.
1 yr later I just noticed the subtle changes in the animation when Sauron started mentioning the massacre at Alqualonde… there were shapes of ships and skulls in the background. Absolutely phenomenal work!
I'm glad you liked those! Yeah I HAD to include the ships in the art, and Clamavi did a great shop with the subtle fades!
Amazing how Sauron brought up the kinslaying at Alqualonde and with the power of his speech overcame even Finrod. I believe the shame and guilt the Noldor carry, together with Sauron's Speech+100 made Finrod lose the battle.
nah, he was sneaky sneaky. *Finrod* brought up Alqualondë and the white ships of the Teleri. He was claiming them as the accomplishments of his people: which isn’t false, his mother was Telerin. But then Sauron is all like “yeah, and then Fëanor…” And Finrod realizes that despite being half-Telerin, he is guilty because he joined the host of the Noldor. Even if he did it for the best of reasons: to protect his people from Fëanor.
I am so jealous of people who can speak quenyan and sindarin
I don’t know if Men knew of the Kinslaying and I believe (if it that were true) that Beren would’ve been shocked to hear that.
The lyrics are from one if the middle cantos of Tolkeins epic poem called The Lay of Leithian. It was never finished and breaks off at the point after Beren and Luthien are escaping Thangorodrim with the Silmaril. Its some 4,000 lines of awesome, and you can read it in The Lays of Beleriand, one of the works published posthumously by Tolkiens son
It could rightly be called the keystone narrative of Tolkiens world given the fundamental importance and meaning if the tale of Beren and Luthien within the history and culture of Middle Earth as well as in Tolkiens own life as he considered his wife to be his Luthien, and he her Beren
Makes one wonder who his Finrod was.
@@AlyssMa7rin C.S. Lewis
I find it rather bittersweet but perfectly fitting to bring Galadriel’s lament into this battle.
A lament not only for what the Noldor had lost, but for her fallen kin in ages past.
A doom not dissimilar to Sauron’s own situation and his own fate. The Enemy to Arda and it’s people, forever lost to darkness like his victims, never to partake in the goodness in Valimar again though he in his pride and malice would deny it.
You can hear when Finrod thinks of Valinor and gets miserable even before Sauron opens his mouth, I love that interpretation
I've watched this over and over so many times, it never fails to be inspiring. Showing just how great and noble Finrod Felagund was before bringing us to the tragedy of his fall.
But my commenting now is because after watching the Fellowship of the Ring again I was struck by the fact that- yes, I knew Galadriel was Finrod's kid sister. But until now it never occurred to me that she had far better reasons than just wanting power to say "I do not deny that my heart has greatly desired this..."
Frodo was offering her the chance to take revenge on Sauron for what he did to her brother Finrod. And "I pass the test" meant she wasn't going to let the desire for revenge corrupt her into something more terrible than Sauron- like her Uncle and Cousins did.
Well actually it was not going to happen. Tolkien said that only a being of the same "high nature" [i.e. a High Maiar spirit] could hope to withstand the One Ring from Sauron when he came in person.
Otherwise The Ring Lord-Galadriel's fate would be terrible as the Ring Lord Frodo. Tolkien said the new Ring Lord would be *crushed to dust* by Sauron if he reached mount doom
Didn’t even notice anything wrong with the original
It sounded weird, muffled. I am glad it was just a mistake, though it was still enjoyable, I was hoping for another version that would do better justice to the voices. Here it is !
Neither did I but I definitely see what's right with this one
The line 'On sand of pearls on Elvenland' and the later third stanza were rendered exactly how I was singing them. Really interesting that nearly identical tonal interpretations can be reached based on writing alone.
My finger bones cracked from clicking on this so quickly.
"Who now shall refill the cup for me?, Now lost, lost to those from the East is Valimar!"
Is filling his cup supposed to be a reference to his power and position? Its an interesting statement in response to what Finrod just sang.
@@morgant.dulaman8733 So these was the words of Galadriel, in the song she sung. She sung both of the phrases that Finrod and Sauron used in their battle. The phrase of the filling cup is a metaphor, asking "Who can restore the glory the elves had of old?" (She remained in exile from Valimar) and sauron uses this lyric in deceive, twisting its meaning
There is something really special about Tolkien's songs, each have something different about them that makes them unique and uniquely beautiful. For this one it is the two perspectives and the song-duel, and I feel that you brought these things to life wonderfully, even better than you usually do (which is saying a lot). This piece also is uses tone extremely well to illustrate the mood at the various points beautifully, on par with Schubert's Erlkönig. Truly marvelous; one of your best!
This comment has my consent
You mean I get to watch this a second time? Well gosh, if you're going to twist my arm... 😉
Oh yeah! :D
Protip : you can actually listen to the same song several times on UA-cam.
@@oneoranota Protip: make sure you use the protip above me because this comment makes no sense
Especially if you've been listening to it on a loop :P
Only your second time?!
The High Fantasy version of "The Devil Went Down to Georgia"
Except the devil wins here
This comment is utterly amazing
Funny, I thought it's the high fantasy version of Tenacious D's Tribute, except again the devil wins. Great minds, sir.
@@allmight9840 Of course he does. Tolkien is Catholic. In Catholic theology, the Devil wins when there is one unforgiven grave sin.
An idea, Song of the Bow and Helm, inspired by Beleg and Turin’s friendship. Or maybe the Song of the Great Bow. The song that Turin sings about beleg
I want Laer Cú Beleg !
If they do that they are going to have to make a lament for the Fall of Gondolin so that we have all three of what Tolkien considered as the primary first age stories.
Finrod Felagund, the noble, the brave, the honest. I love the character, I love this rendition, well done!
Having just listened to this for the nth time I realized something cool (at least it is to me): Finrod invokes the strength of the tower, which is somewhat hilarious because they are literally fighting inside a tower that used to belong to Finrod and that Sauron captured.
Oh yeah... I forgot about that. He probably put in "give me back my tower"
Somewhere
@@dolphingoreeaccount7395 "Craven servant of Melkor, who can only steal and corrupt, not make for oneself."
@@AlyssMa7rin *Sauron:* _"Cannot make aught for myself, you say?"_
@@emperordaniel9595 Ripped off Celebrimbor, though.
@@Brievel It was *Sauron* who taught Celebrimbor, not the other way around. That's why even the Three _(which Sauron had no part in making, and did not know existed initially)_ could be influenced by him, though not as much as the Seven and the Nine were.
Will be sharing!
Thank you!
Sauron, Dark Lord, Jeweler, and rap battler.
Eat your hearts out J.K. Rowling and Voldemort.
Harry potter is a weak failed imitation
@@allmight9840 not even. Still bad though.
LOTR is a masterpiece of 40 years. Thanks the medievalist, linguist, mastermind Tolkien.
Dumbledore sucks
Gandalf rocks
@@allmight9840 It's good, and it's not an imitation.
@@mycaleb8 its prettyy close
Imagine a silmarillion series or movie with this music! I think Tolkien would have loved to see his poems being made into such amazing songs.
I really like the middle part. It sounds like Finrod has a chance to win, like it's gonna be the glorious duel where Sauron will really struggle, only for it to be later said that he didn't even stood from his throne. All hail Finrod Felagund, one of greatest elves, the great king of Norgothrond.
This is the absolute masterpiece of Soft Magic
What amazes me is that, in spite of their being absolutely no rules, you can *absolutely* tell who is winning, and when. Sauron's first verse is basically "wizardry 101" and Finrod turns it up a notch with a bit of prose. But once they're neck-and-neck, Finrod evokes the very elves themselves, and all their power. They're Eru's chosen people -- *Tolkien's* chosen people -- and nearly any counter verse would fail in the face of that. But Sauron is so smart he comes up with the one verse that can answer -- the slaying of their own kin, via their own hands. Anyone familiar with the tale would know, right then and there, that Sauron had one the contest there. It may be soft magic, but you can tell who had the mastery just by looking at the words.
Finrod in the Halls of Mandos
Thus was the doom of Finrod Felagund,
alone in the halls of Mandos since his defeat
at the hands of his own guilt.
Under a silent, smokey gloom he sat, brooding and weeping,
haunted by the ghosts of his kindred
on western sea and western sand,
punished by the stench
of charred flesh and white wood,
as he tried to rinse the blood from his hands
with his quiet guilt.
And such was the power in the song
of Sauron the accuser,
that the light with which
he had crushed noble Felagund,
cave-hewer, friend to man,
and mightiest singer among the elven bards
save Daeron himself,
lingered long after body's failure.
Evil prism light which warps
unabstracted truth to twisted ends
brought low the mighty king
of starlight's children.
And the king still quietly groaned in agony,
writhing against the imagined blade.
Towering, hooded Mandos, the titanic Judge of the Valar,
had tried many times to free Finrod
from the weight of the doom the king had chosen.
He reached into the king's memory
and brought back images of Finrod's virtuosity
while playing a crude harp for
the sons of men, his infant siblings, and awakening
in their hearts visions of wisdom and wonder.
He played for him the intricate echoes from
hollow halls carved into stone which
the king created for the dwarves
under the mountain.
He played for him songs of loyalty,
of friendship and true gentility,
of oaths kept and kindness done.
But none of these, no, not one
could outweigh visions of burning ships,
crimson shores and waters murky with treachery.
Finally, after many years, Mandos, despite great pity
in his heart, towered menacingly over the brooding king,
and reluctantly, but solemnly intoned these words:
"Arise Finrod, faithful found, and hear thy judgement.
Twas not the truth in Sauron's song,
nor kindred's blood which stains thy royal hands,
nor smoke of Foamrider treasures
still smoldering on bloody sand,
on sand of tears in mortal land,
that brought thy noble lordship low
before such an abomination
and imprisoned thee in this gloom,
but hubris in thy expectation
of bright King Finrod's perfection
and that of his noble race.
As long as thou clingest to thy pride,
this, thy doom, is just.
Thy own heart's heaviness condemns thee."
At this went blank the eyes of the king,
as he considered long the words Mandos
had spoken--mouthing some unknown reason
unto himself. And at length a cleaner sort of
guilt stole into Finrod's noble heart.
Then slowly, a humble grin crept over the
crags of his aged, grey face.
In time, the grin climbed
to his lowered, reddened eyes.
And as he raised his head, the righteous
embarrassment of a child shone in the eyes
of the king just as dawn's eye
peeked in to warm chilly marble halls.
Then, Namo, great Judge of the Valar
and keeper of the souls of the lost,
knelt before the broken King,
placed heavy hands
gently upon Finrod's shoulders,
looked evenly into the king's abashed eyes
and through tears of joy said unto him,
"Tis not only for thy sheepish grin
which the Valar have so long hoped,
O noblest of Elven Kings,
but even moreso,
for thy song."
Oh, could you please tell me where this come from?
Did you just compose that?
@@vojtatlusty7289 uhh...seems like you replied to the wrong post friend :) @keats27 wrote the poem.
@@sophiejones7727 :D
@
keats27 Nice poem, I do not like Free verse, but it is not your problem, but my. By the way where is it come from? Did you compose that?
I've never been hyped for a song before I found these guys
Ah yes, it’s all coming together now
What is coming together? What do you mean?
It is time.
Re-upload the song that was broken.
In UA-cam it dwells
@@evangelosnikitopoulos Appreciate that 🙌
My three-year-old sister has memorized this song and likes to sing the whole thing through at full volume during breakfast. There's nothing cuter that hearing "da chain DAT SNAPS" while I'm doing the dishes. :)
Aww
Does she even sing the elvish parts? If she does I bet it sounds cute,
The second verse of Finrod's was so well done I took off my hat without realizing it.
I already listened to the original several times a day, and you're telling me it's even better now!?
Awesome
same
Several times? I listened to it over 15 times I think XD
😭 1:51 “Nai hiruvalyë Valimar Nai elyë hiruva. Namárië!”
I can’t hold back my tears while listening to these words!
I recently read the Silmarillion. This song definitely does this battle and Tolkien's work justice.
This is amazing, Finrod is my favorite character and you did him justice, have been waiting this one for a long time
Commenting to help with the algorithm
Same finrod is goat
You messed up? I didn't even notice!
There’s something positively mythical about the Battle between Sauron and Finrod in this depiction. You can feel the flow of the battle and the power channeled within the music.
In Finrod’s spell is the glory of Valinor, of the Elves and the Natural World.
But Sauron’s response takes advantage of the mention of Elven wonder and turns it to horror by invoking the Kinslaying, an act so vile that another quite like it has yet to be done.
I have listened to this multiple times in a row.
Bullroarer Took: Inventor of Golf
Sauron and Finrod Felagund: Inventors of Battle Rap
Earendil: inventor of the flying boat clutch (not dream)
I love this the way the music changes for either part and the morphing artwork in the background is amazing. I especially like the style of magical fighting where instead of using spells and incantations they use ideas and emotions to do battle. And speaking of the artwork it is *Lip Smack* amazing. The transformation of Fellagan was my favorite part that or when the tower first appeared.
Funny story watching this song battle reminded me that this exact thing happened in a D&D game I ran. It was Dungeon of the Mad Mage and the Mind Flayer pirate captain on level 7/8 (I forgot which) and the bard engaged in a psychic song battle. I had previously established that Mind Flayer telepathy sounds like music chanting in your head as background to the actual communication. So when the Captain psychically attacked the bard he asked to sing back. What ensued was a 9 turn song battle used charisma and charismatic skills for attack rolls. The bard won. Funny thing is that none of the other player characters knew what was happening, they just thought the bard was singing randomly and tried to get him to stop. That was until the spell singer elf casted detect magic on the bard to see if he had been charmed. She discovered the battle that was happening in the bards head and aided him by joining his song. Then the rouge not knowing what was happening decided to sing too.
TLDR: My idiots of a dnd party accidentally recreated one of the most awesome moments in the Legendarium by singing Smells Like Teen Spirt to a knock off Davy Jones.
As a d and d fan wish I was there
Thank you so much for your words about the artwork - I'm really glad you liked it! I was glad to make it, and the group did a great job with the visual merging and fading!
@@michaelhowe4746 You’re a great artist! Keep up the amazing work!
@@carissamace Thank you so much!!! :)
2:45 The way you evoke the sea and the infinite longing for it with your voices and music is undescribable. I swear I can hear the surging of its deepest tides and the wailing of the seabirds ..
Been telling people that Tolkien wrote the original Epic Rap Battle for years.
I can definitely hear a difference, either way both versions are great. Keep up the great work!
I can't, but I'm as observant as a brick.
I think they made the audio clearer for the Finrod portion. That's the only difference I can notice
I love Clamavi De Profundis, and have been a Patreon supporter. As a conductor, I have brought some of their songs to my own choir. Many of their songs are unbelievably *perfect* and subtly wondrous: Durin's Song, Beren & Luthien, Song of Gil-galad, Boromir's Lament, and Song of Earendil (Part I & II). These songs are among the best artistic interpretations and evocations of Middle-earth...ever. These set a high bar for others, and for themselves.
Others of their songs are also noteworthy: much of Roads Go Ever On is evocative (though in some phrases, the tune is overly-textured, confused and lost), and Part III of Earendil has very poignant aspects, yet could use some further sprucing to match the magnificence of Part I & II.
Though all of their Middle-earth songs have some worthy charming facets, some of them are weaker or more threadbare. I endorse the effort. This Battle of Sauron has great aspects, but doesn't quite do it for me. Perhaps I will warm to a bit more after further listens. The stanza where Felagund stands is magnificent. Also the part where Felagund's song starts to slow and get stuck in the mire of the elven sands. Yet the parts where Sauron is singing is kind of unsingable, because the tone is so distorted. (Yeah, I know he's supposed to be a "monster", but still.) It's unfortunate that CDP have run with the the "EEEEVIL" guttural voice of the Eye of Sauron in the films. It would've been better to have had a "normal" "beautifully" voiced Sauron. He hadn't lost his beauteous form in the First Age. More beautiful than an elf. His voice would be beauteous and masterful as well. Mairon (Sauron) is literally a better singer than Felagund. Like Klingsor in the minnesinger duels. Yeah, it might be hard to not sound silly with Sauron warbling, but fill his song with F-sharps and other tricks. I would recommend that Clamavi delve into the esoteric Anthroposophic song-writing tradition, as found in the Movement for Religious Renewal hymnals and Waldorf songbooks, of which Tolkien's fellow Inkling, Owen Barfield, was affiliated.
I will continue to be an aficionado and supporter of CDP. If I had my way, they'd be chained to their songwriters' desks and paid a full livelihood to write Middle-earth songs their whole life! (Okay, maybe skip the chain.) I will continue to follow CDP's further evolution.
P.S. The very concept of Sauron (Mairon/Annatar) vs. Saruman (Curunir) was partly inspired by Tolkien's encounter with Barfield's philosophy of two flavors of evil: hot desire vs. cold calculation, which, in his philosophy is named "Luzifer" vs. "Ahriman" (note the phonaesthetic borrowing for "Saruman"). And a third, radical nihilistic evil behind them both: "Sorath" (note the wordshape "Morgoth"). These esoteric forces are equated with musical motifs and voice-actor motifs in Steinerian music traditions; besides in the Christengemeinschaft hymns mentioned above, also in the mystery dramas performed at the Goetheanum (a real-life "Rivendell"). These motifs would further differentiate and enliven any interpretations of "evil beings" in musical compositions.
Also, though I love and appreciate amateur DIY folk-art as well as the next person (the green image of the ship of Venus for the Song of Earendil Part III is my favorite); for a musical presentation of CDP's caliber, it deserves to have visual presentation of similar caliber. There are several ultra-skilled Middle-earth visual artists on Deviant. And I'm personal friends with the illustrator Ella L., who has read the entire Silmarillion, Hobbit, and LotR aloud (I was there!). She can be reached at: ellapointe.com
Some of these artists could put together an original professional quality image for each song, at not great cost. I love the effort of the CDP's visual artist(s?), yet CDP's music deserves an even more skillful visual complement.
What was Felagund singing? The chain that snaps? ;) On a more serious note, I really enjoyed your analysis of not only this song but more of their works!
I must strongly disagree on the road goes ever on. I think it is perfect.
Also, in is role at this time as Morgoths Lieutenant, Sauron was not attempting to disguise his nature, and while he dwelt there at Finronds own former fortress of Minas Tirith, he was affiliated with werewolves and the like. A gutteral tone for his song is not at all inappropriate for this arrangement.
I just like them all
Probably one of your best works, honestly. It and the song of durin are my favorites.
You have good taste
Simply a Masterpiece.
No more. No less.
Sauron will always be my all time favorite villain, I admire him in many ways.
I dont think you should admire sauron..
Just as well as the song of Hammerdeep was a central piece heir of your whole work on dwarven songs, we can feel in the Battle of Sauron and Finrod Felagund the legacy of your work on Sauron and elves, getting back the vibes of One Ring or Eärendil, waving into an entirely new harmony.
Great job ! I love the coherence that there is between your current work and pieces made years ago.
I bet this will make more justice to Finrod then the all Rings of Power series
They made Elves as cool as Dwarves... now that’s power!
Shivers down my spine. The last lines were so mournful. I also loved the changes in the image, it illustrates the scene so well
Virgins fight with swords
CHADS FIGHT BY SINGING AT EACH OTHER
I'd love to hear a song dedicated to sauron and Morgoth's rise to power using these beautiful bassy and baratone sounds. Those chants are to die for!
And Finrod fell before the throne.
(Agh burzum ishi krimpatul)
Sneaking a bit of the One Ring cant eh?
Quite appropriate though.
And Finrod fell before the throne.
(And in the darkness bound)
Yes
I want to thank the group. I am Tolkien fan from more than 20 years. This song just...returned me back in the days, when I entered Elvenworld for the first time.. Got those chills on my back again... never expected to feel that way again with Silmarillion :)
I keep coming back to listen to this, over and over again. I love all your Tolkien music, but this one is my absolute favorite. You did such an amazing job.
After losing to Sauron Finrod was bound in chains alongside Beren and the 10 Elven warriors who had joined them.
Sauron sent a Werewolf to devour these men alive because despite everything that had transpired he couldn't fully break the illusion Finrod had cast and intended to torture the truth out of them, all 10 of the Elven soldiers held their tongue and accepted their fate.
Finrod died when the Wolf went to kill Beren, he broke his chains and fought the Wolf barehanded killing it and saving Beren at the cost of his own life.
Beren would later take part in a hunt where he would in the end slay the most powerful Werewolf that ever lived, but soon after he would die just as Finrod did.
Finrod would go on to be reborn in the Undying Lands, the first Elf to ever do so before the First Age.
All of this occured purely because Thingol, king of Doriath demanded that Beren bring back a Silmaril from the crown of Morgoth in order to be allowed to marry the daughter of Thingol Luthien.
When Beren died Luthien would soon follow as she completely lost the will to live, the two would reincarnate as moral humans and would out a relatively peaceful life together.
Wow you know the Beren and Luthein story 👏😱
Honestly, Beren and Lúthien is my favorite story in all of Tolkien's world.
Great summary! I just finished reading the Silmarillion. Your breakdown is spot on. :)
Finrod Felagund - may favourite character from entire MiddleEarth. I like your song so much. It is wonderfull, amazing atmosphere. It is even better with special picture changing while the song is flowing. Thank you all for wonderfull work.